Buffalo Chicken Pasta (Printable)

Tender chicken in spicy buffalo sauce with creamy cheese and blue cheese crumbles. Bold, comforting, and ready in 35 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or rotini pasta

→ Chicken

02 - 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast

→ Sauce

03 - 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
04 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter
05 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
06 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
07 - 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
08 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
10 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Topping

12 - 1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled
13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or green onions, optional

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
02 - While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add buffalo sauce and stir to combine.
03 - Lower heat and whisk in softened cream cheese until smooth. Pour in heavy cream, whisking constantly until sauce reaches a creamy consistency.
04 - Stir in mozzarella cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until all cheese is fully melted and well combined.
05 - Add shredded chicken to the sauce and stir until thoroughly coated and heated through.
06 - Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss to combine, ensuring even coating with sauce throughout.
07 - Transfer to serving bowls. Top with crumbled blue cheese and chopped chives if desired. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It turns plain shredded chicken into something exciting without any fancy techniques or hard to find ingredients.
  • The creamy buffalo sauce clings to every piece of pasta, so you get bold flavor in every single bite.
  • It comes together faster than ordering takeout and tastes like something you'd crave on a busy weeknight.
  • You can dial the heat up or down depending on who's at the table, making it flexible for picky eaters and spice lovers alike.
02 -
  • Soften the cream cheese before you start or it will leave stubborn lumps in your sauce no matter how hard you whisk.
  • Don't rinse the pasta after draining, the starch on the surface helps the sauce stick and creates a creamier coating.
  • Taste the buffalo sauce straight from the bottle first, some brands are much saltier or spicier than others and you'll want to adjust accordingly.
  • If the sauce gets too thick after adding the pasta, a few splashes of reserved pasta water will bring it back to life without diluting the flavor.
03 -
  • Use a skillet large enough to toss the pasta comfortably, or you'll end up chasing noodles all over your stovetop.
  • If you like it extra spicy, stir in a pinch of cayenne or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce right before serving.
  • Grate your own mozzarella instead of buying pre shredded, it melts smoother and doesn't have that weird coating that can make sauces gritty.
  • Let the pasta rest in the sauce for a minute or two before serving so it soaks up even more flavor.
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